The conversation will focus around virtual environments and meeting the needs of a classroom of learners that not only expect engagement, but personalized instruction that is relevant and useful. When leading course design workshop,we should expect rigor with purpose and explicit outcomes aligned with standards; an engaging teacher using simple web based tools of today can do that via vodcast, screencasts, webinars, conferencing, online surveys, and more.

Conversational Practice:

Discuss perceptions and opinions around the term Direct Instruction//. How can we meet the needs of learners, offer direct instruction around a concept or benchmark, yet maintain the flexibility and benefit of online learning for today's students. We will look at good and bad examples from hybrid and online courses. What has worked for others? Brainstorm around best practice of online instruction and why relaying exactly what the students will be expected to know isn't a bad thing. How can we outsource our direct instruction? How can we use video/vodcasts, screencasts, webinars, web conferencing, and online surveys to accomplish mini lessons and micro-lectures. What can be gleaned when we enable students as teachers?Extensions: How can Online Ed Courses be used as an intervention strategy (RTI)? What can today's students bring to the table and contribute besides "post and respond to 3 others?"Website: Direct Instruction Virtually